CDC Issues New Guidance that Allows Vaccinated Americans to go Maskless Outside in Uncrowded Spaces

By Yehudit Garmaise

     After more than a year of mask mandates, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just issued new guidance that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks for many outside activities, although masks are still required at crowded outdoor events.

      When Mayor Bill de Blasio was asked this morning whether he would stop wearing masks outdoors immediately, the mayor responded by saying that he probably would do so, but it would “depend on the circumstance.”

      “We can certainly work with that because we have said all along that the difference between outdoor and indoor is really so much of this ballgame,” the mayor said. “Outdoors is a much, much better situation [in terms of COVID safety.]” 

      Mayor de Blasio added that if the CDC no longer requires masks outdoors, then the choice to do so “will be the choice of each New Yorker.”

      A reporter also asked the mayor whether and he was concerned that the new CDC guidance might lead to many New Yorker to stop wearing masks whether indoors, or out.

     “What we do want to focus on intently is people in the habit of wearing masks indoors, at least for the next couple of months,” Mayor de Blasio said. “I think people should anticipate keeping those masks on indoors, certainly during May and June, and then we will reassess from there.”

     Jay Varma, MD, the mayor’s senior adviser for public health weighed in by saying, “Vaccinated people are at very low risk of transmitting infection to other people, and when you add in the fact that transmission outdoors is far less likely than outdoors, that certainly adds up to a logical recommendation.”

     The large population of New Yorkers who interact in smaller spaces than elsewhere and walk on crowded streets is what Dr. Varma called “one of the challenges we face here in New York” that can affect how top physicians will decide how to apply the CDC’s new guidance.

     The CDC also issued guidelines that said that while all activities, both indoor and outdoor, are safe for fully vaccinated people, New Yorkers who are not yet vaccinated should be aware that many activities, such as attending crowded, outdoor events, attending full-capacity worship services, singing in indoor choruses, eating indoor restaurants, and participating in high intensity, indoor fitness classes remain unsafe.